Racing

[Mr. Midnight's Mom]

Mary - are you bringing your little furry friend w/you? LOL! He's adorable!

[maryt]

Thank you I was going to run to Meijers and take a picture of me on their penny horse, but I chickened out! So until I get my own horse, it's going to be my little friend here

[Mr. Midnight's Mom]

[Admin]

Good article today in the Washington Post on re-training the ex-racehorse. Lots of similarities with Bluff.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 340&s_pos=

[Mr. Midnight's Mom]

What a nice video!

[Admin]

Yes. I wrote to Steve Hendrix about Bluff. I hope he reads it.

[DoxieLover]

Public Invited to Eight Belles Ceremony




Eight Belles

Eight Belles, who had to be euthanized on the Churchill Downs racetrack shortly after finishing second in this year’s Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), will be memorialized in a ceremony Sept. 7 at 2 p.m. in the Kentucky Derby Museum’s gardens.

The public is welcome to attend the event, and no museum admission will be required for the ceremony.

During the ceremony, Eight Belles’ owner Rick Porter will unveil a plaque honoring the filly. It will be mounted under a magnolia tree where the filly’s remains will be interred. Also expected to take part in the ceremony is trainer Larry Jones, who will make additional remarks.

The ceremony will close with “Candle in the Wind,” chosen by the Porter family and performed by the local Briargate Presbyterian Church’s bell choir.

In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will take place in the museum’s Great Hall.

Bred in Kentucky by Robert N. Clay and Serengeti Stable, Eight Belles finished her career with a 5-3-1 record from 10 starts and earned $708,650. The daughter of Unbridled's Song won the Honeybee (gr. III) and Fantasy Stakes (gr. II) before taking on colts in the Kentucky Derby.

For more information about the Kentucky Derby Museum, visit www.derbymuseum.org.

[Mr. Midnight's Mom]

Today's paper

http://www.kentucky.com/181/story/516665.html

The article is open for comments (you have to register - it's free - my comment is the second - only a few responses to my comment - both inane in their simplicity - the horses go on to race....blah blah blah - HA! is what I say.....doubtful that they all do - and we know what happens to them - one claiming race after another...and then what? Total avoidance of the real issue!

so post your comments ladies!

Keeneland sale has record number of horses
By Alicia Wincze
awincze@herald-leader.com

Charles Bertram | Staff
With the 2008 Keeneland September sales starting late Monday morning, an exercise rider worked a thoroughbred on the training track in the pre-dawn hours at the Keeneland Race Course located on Versailles Road. Photo by Charles Bertram | Staff


Comments
This time last season, with a struggling economy and softening marketplace hovering over them, consignors and sales officials braced themselves for some rough going at the Keeneland September yearling sale, only to see the marquee auction show a startling amount of resiliency.


On the eve of the 2008 Keeneland September auction, the same caution and concern resonated throughout the sales grounds. But this time, the signs are less favorable that the world's largest yearling auction can reverse the odds again.


There is no more basic economic concept than supply and demand, and for the next 15 days, the Keeneland September sale is going to test the limits of that principle as it has cataloged a record 5,555 horses at a time when the Thoroughbred marketplace is suffering through major corrections.


The September sale, which starts Monday, runs through Sept. 23 with one off day, Friday.


Last year, after struggling through the first two sessions, the September auction surged when middle market strength carried it to its second-highest gross in history, with receipts totaling more than $385 million.


The opposite could be the case this year. While the top end of the market has proved solid in 2008, players in the lower middle end — those most affected by the current economic hardships — have pulled back, resulting in an increasingly polarizing mind-set among buyers.


"There never have been (enough buyers) before, so why would there be this year?" said Craig Bandoroff of Denali Stud. "If you have a really good horse you'll do all right, but if you don't you probably better figure out what Plan B is."


Boutique auctions like the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga select sale that put heavy emphasis on pedigree and conformation have been able to post some admirable results. But the adverse effects of overproduction have been felt at other yearling sales this season.


Across-the-board declines occurred at both the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July sale and the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. August yearling sale, with the rate of horses not sold soaring well above 30 percent.


"We have really too many horses running into a slowing economy," said Case Clay, president of Three Chimneys Farm. "It seems like the players are here to play, but how much they're willing to spend no one will know until it happens."


Added Bayne Welker, sales director of Mill Ridge Farm: "We've produced a lot of horses and good physicals will continue to sell well, but it's going to get tougher out there. You take (France's) Deauville (August yearling sale) out of the mix and we've seen declines everywhere."


International buyers have been the saviors of many auctions in recent years, but the increased strength of the dollar of late could put a dent in that action.


Still, if international buyers spend enough the first week, some consignors think there might be enough money for week two when the going will be especially rough.


"(International buyers) are definitely going to be active the first three books, but after that we'll see how much of an impact they'll have," said Andrew Cary, director of sales for Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency. "If they buy a lot in the first two books then it kind of has a carryover to the middle books where American buyers who might be shut out in the first two books will have more money to spend later on."


Last year's sale saw Demi O'Byrne, agent for Coolmore Stud principal John Magnier, purchase 13 horses for $17,920,000 — including the $3.7 million sale-topping colt by Unbridled's Song — to lead all buyers.


As usual, one can expect Coolmore to battle with its rival, Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, for the best bloodstock offerings.


Beyond that, however, much of the 2008 Keeneland September sale is clouded in uncertainty.


"I was proved wrong last year. I thought after Book 4, the sale would drop off and it stayed strong throughout," Clay said. "Hopefully I'm wrong again. But I think it's one big question mark."



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Mr. Midnight's Mom]

Regulators enact whip ban for harness racing
By Janet Patton
jpatton1@herald-leader.com

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission on Monday approved a ban on abusive whipping in harness racing, making the state the first North American racing jurisdiction to outlaw "side" whipping.


"Once again, the KHRC has moved forcefully to enhance the safety of horse racing," said Gov. Steve Beshear in a statement. "I am proud that Kentucky is at the forefront of states acting on behalf of the humane treatment of trotters and pacers."


The new rules will go into effect in spring 2009, after a public comment period.


Drivers will no longer be allowed to lean out whip horses as the come down the stretch, something that has become routine practice in the United States. They will be required to keep one rein in each hand.


"Snappers" -- strands on the end of a whip that can cause welts -- also are banned.


The new rules also carry stiff penalties, believed to be among the toughest in harness racing. Drivers could face fines of $100 to $13,000 and suspensions of 10 to 30 days for a first whipping offense. Use of a snapper could result in a fine up to $20,000 and suspension for up to a year.


Commission member Alan Leavitt, a Standardbred owner and breeder who has pushed for the new rules, said the move is necessary to help the sport re-establish itself.


"I've been in harness racing for 50 years and over that time I've watched abusive whipping become a cancer on our business," Leavitt said. "And until we get rid of it, it's going to be impossible to increase our fan base and we're not going to be able to attract new owners. People don't want to see it."


Both the Hambletonian Society and the U.S. Trotting Association support the new rule and are lobbying for more jurisdictions to adopt it.


Leavitt and his wife, Meg Jewett, are among the owners of this year's Hambletonian winner, Deweycheatumnhowe.


The horse's driver and trainer, Ray Schnittker, also a co-owner, expressed regret after the race for hitting Dewey once in the stretch as he fended off a charge from another horse, Crazed, even though the move in the New Jersey race was legal.


Leavitt said Schnittker told him, "I shouldn't have done it. He was giving me all that he had."


"I wish he hadn't done it, Meg wishes he hadn't ... Ray wishes he hadn't," Leavitt said. He said the horse was unharmed.


The Hambletonian is first jewel of the trotting Triple Crown.


Dewey will race Saturday at The Red Mile in Lexington in preparation for the Kentucky Futurity heats next week. The Kentucky Future on Oct. 4 is the second leg of the trotting Triple Crown.

[maryt]

That is awesome news! Finally - some changes are taking place - you know those ripples!!

Love the horses name "Deweycheatumnhowe"

[Mr. Midnight's Mom]

Yes Indeed - Kentucky is trying to clean up its act in preparation of the World Equestrian Games - wish they'd concentrate some on the torture they allow to be done for the Walking Horses - we're not giving up!

[snowshoehair]

I think they need to ban whips on all of the tracks. Period! No whips = no abusive whipping.

There is no excuse for beating a horse and if they can't get the poor animal to do what they want without beating him, they are just plain poor trainers!

[scoobysmom]

Ditto what Lori said, those whips need to be banned.

[Admin]

I agree Lori.

It does seem as if Kentucky is trying hard. I don't care the reason, as long as it happens.

[Mr. Midnight's Mom]

An interesting read - which also underscores what we'll be facing this year! Get busy folks!

http://www.kentucky.com/181/story/534481.html

[IMustBeCrazy]

Kentucky knows "WE" are coming

[scoobysmom]

Isn't that something...

[Mr. Midnight's Mom]

Now here is a sensible person!

http://www.westpointtb.com/news/letter- ... p?id=13253

[IMustBeCrazy]

Glory Be! Someone in the industry "gets it".

[fxtrtrgrl]

OMG, congrats to that bright person.

Lyn

[Mr. Midnight's Mom]

Today marked the 19 year anniversary of the loss of Secretariat to laminitis. Here's to you Big Red! What a horse!

[Admin]

What a beautiful horse! Look at the legs on him and tell me the breeding hasn't changed dramatically on TB's!

[snowshoehair]

Yes, if you compare his picture with the ones of Bluff or the pictures on the adoption pages of the Thoroughbred Adoption Network, they are all legs. Just another example of how the way racehorses have been bred over the years has brought about the numerous problems with their legs and feet.

[Admin]

Great news today! More reforms!

http://www.kentucky.com/181/story/556558.html

[scoobysmom]

Finally! Why does it have to take so long to get people to realize these laws need to be implemented?

[wisdomkeeper]

Kudos to the NTRA for implementing these but I still say horse poopie on them for flipping on their previous anti-slaughter stand. Unless I missed something. ...?

[Mr. Midnight's Mom]

Although the fund supports all breeds - in KY, the TBs get the lion's share based on number of foals - the foal crop has been down for the past 2 years - and the recent sales at Keeneland and Fasig Tipton have been faltering. The KY economy could be hitting a bumpy ride for a few years -

http://www.kentucky.com/181/story/663125.html

Although - on a positive note - it looks like the principles of supply and demand may JUST now be starting to work. One can only hope.

[fxtrtrgrl]

We can definitely hope.

Lyn

[Mr. Midnight's Mom]

If the breeders would just say donate a small portion of their stud fees on an annual basis - or a small percentage of what they get from the sales - can you imagine how many OTTBs that would help!

[fxtrtrgrl]

Sounds like a good idea to me, Penny.

Lyn